In this episode, we dive deep into one of the most challenging aspects of running a business right now—how to show up authentically when the world feels heavy, complicated, and politically charged. We explore what it means to be human in your business, how to protect your energy while staying engaged, and why your wellness as a business owner matters just as much as the service you provide.

Drinks of the Episode: We're keeping it cozy with warm beverages.

• The messy reality of showing up online: When do you post about current events? When do you stay quiet? How do you navigate being "the only witch someone knows" or the face of your business when people have strong opinions about everything?
• Performative activism vs. genuine action: The difference between posting to avoid backlash and actually living your values. We discuss how social media algorithms capitalize on outrage and why sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is make a phone call instead of posting a hot take.
• The emotional labor of being visible: How to handle snarky emails, entitled feedback, and people who want you to change your entire business model to suit them (spoiler: mostly happens to women in business).
• Why you need your own support: Even if you're a coach who knows all the tools, you can't be your own therapist. We talk about the trap of always being the helper and why you need a space to process your own emotions without your coach hat on.
• Creating space for your clients: Sometimes the best thing you can offer isn't a brilliant coaching intervention; it's just witnessing someone's humanity and giving them permission to feel what they're feeling.
• AI as an emotional buffer: How AI tools can handle the energy-draining parts of customer service (like those snarky emails) so you don't have to take the emotional hit every time someone has an opinion about your prices.

Service-based business owners who are exhausted from trying to be everything to everyone. Coaches who care deeply about the world and their clients but are struggling to show up without burning out. Anyone who's ever gotten a snarky email about their prices and needed three days to recover. People who want to run a business that reflects their values without losing themselves in the process.

This conversation is heavy, but we hope it was thoughtful, and maybe even a little fun. The world is complicated, your business is complicated, and you're a human trying to figure it all out. Give yourself permission to not have all the answers, to change your mind, to take time to process, and to prioritize your own wellness so you can actually serve the people who need you.

As always, there will be someone out there telling you how you're supposed to do it. And as always, they'll be wrong. Do what feels right for you, tend to yourself first, and remember: what good is a pile of money if you're alone and exhausted when you get it?

Erin's book Superabound - for more on Personal Filters and boundaries

The concept of the Tending Triad from the book; these are self-investment practices that sustain you

Erin Aquin is a Master Certified Life Coach and co-author of the #1 bestseller "Superabound: Live the Life the Universe is Dreaming For You." She provides whole life coaching for business owners, integrating success and personal fulfillment through her unique all-in-one approach.

Learn more at besuperabound.com

Elana McKernan is a Master Certified Life and Creativity Coach who specializes in helping perfectionists create more by treating themselves better. You can check out her free content here and learn more about coaching with her here.

Picture this: Erin's in near-Toronto dealing with minus-30°C weather, Elena's buried in New Jersey snow, and we're both pretending we're somewhere tropical by mixing up vacation drinks. Elana's got a tangerine whiskey sour with egg whites (made in a mason jar, because sometimes you just have to work with what you've got), and Erin's sipping a margarita—no salt, because when the tequila's good enough, you don't need it.

We're recording from our respective winter fortresses, and honestly? The polar vortex called for this kind of creative escape. Sometimes you need to pretend you're somewhere warm when you're actually contemplating whether your face will freeze off.

But then the conversation gets real. When the world feels heavy—whether that's personally, socially, or globally—two questions kept coming up for us: How do you navigate politics and current events as a coach, both in your business and with clients? And how do you actually show up as a coach when things are rough for you personally?

We get into what it means to hold space for clients when everything feels intense, how to be human while also being professional, and why coaches don't have to have it all figured out to be effective. Because here's the thing nobody talks about: some coaching sessions feel like you're performing "being a coach" instead of actually coaching. And your clients? They can always tell the difference.

This episode is for coaches wondering how much of themselves to bring to their work, anyone trying to run a business during challenging times, and people who need permission to be imperfect and still show up. If you've ever felt like you need to have your business armor on 24/7, or wondered how to stay present when life gets hard, pull up a chair. We're talking about the messy, human side of coaching that doesn't make it into the highlight reels.

What you'll walk away with: permission to be a whole person, not just a coach persona. Insight into how to hold your own challenges while still being present for others. And maybe some inspiration to make a fancy drink in a mason jar—because why not?

Find all the links, resources, and ways to work with Erin and Elena at besuperabound.com/coachingmixer. Thanks for listening, and pour yourself something good for the next one.

Ever wonder what it's like to build a business with your spouse? In this episode, we dive deep into the messy, magical world of collaboration—from working with family to choosing the right creative partners. Erin gets refreshingly honest about the challenges of running Superabound with Steve, including the time she realized she was more interested in the business than their romantic life (yikes!).

Key Topics:

• Working with Family: The good, the bad, and the "are we talking as business partners or life partners right now?" Erin shares how she and Steve navigate the tricky waters of being both married and business cofounders.
• Setting Boundaries: Learn about Erin's game-changing rule: no work talk after 9 PM, and everything business goes in Slack (not shouted across the house). Plus, the genius move of paying her kids $2 every time they caught her working outside work hours.
• The Collaboration Litmus Test: Before saying yes to any collaboration, ask yourself: "If I had to do 100% of the work, would I still be excited about this?" It's a brain gymnastics question that will save you from energy-draining partnerships.
• What Makes a Good Collaborator: First question: Is this a good person I actually want to spend time with? Because when things get hard (and they will), you need to like the person you're problem-solving with.
• The Parenting Parallel: Erin draws a beautiful connection between co-parenting and business collaboration—it's about being grateful your partner is there, not just needing them to lighten your load.

Memorable Quotes:

"I hired little narcs to keep me accountable. They're so good at that job."

"If I'm only interested in something if the other person does X, Y, and Z, it's probably not actually vision aligned."

Action Items for You:

• Audit your current collaborations: Are you approaching them from a place of "I don't want to do all the work" or "I genuinely want to build something with this specific person"?
• If you work with family or a partner, establish clear communication protocols. What's your version of "business stuff stays in Slack"?
• Before your next collaboration opportunity, ask: Would I still do this if I had to carry the full load? If not, it might not be aligned with your Vision.

Next Episode: Stay tuned for more conversations about building a business and life you actually love—without the burnout.

For full show notes and to connect with us, visit https://besuperabound.com/coachingmixer/ep-21-grateful-not-needy-the-secret-to-healthy-collaboration

Thanks for mixing it up with us! 🍹

Collaborations can be magic—or they can turn into the group project where you do all the work. We dive into:

When collaborations work (and when they don't)

Mutual benefit isn't just a nice idea—it's the foundation. If you're the only one promoting, marketing, or caring about the outcome, that's a problem.

The danger of unsaid expectations

Erin shares stories of podcast guests who treated her platform like a free marketing service without reciprocating. The lesson? Say the things you think don't need to be said. They need to be said.

Working with family and friends

Erin works with her husband Steve as well as her father, John. We talk about why closer relationships sometimes need more formal agreements, not fewer—and how to have hard conversations without ruining Thanksgiving.

Theater taught us everything

Collaborations in theater have hard deadlines (the curtain goes up whether you're ready or not). Business owners could learn from that urgency and shared ownership.

What makes this podcast work

We got explicit about expectations from day one: fun over perfection, casual over polished, and we can skip weeks if we need to. Low stakes, high trust.

The marriage metaphor

Collaborations are lowkey marriages. You need open communication, regular check-ins, and the ability to say "this isn't working" before resentment builds.

• Sit down and say all the things you think don't need to be said—that's where the problems hide
• The closer the personal relationship, the more formal your collaboration agreement should be
• You can test collaborations with low-stakes projects before committing long-term
• If someone's not taking ownership, check whether expectations were actually explicit
• Collaborations aren't less work than solo work—they require communication skills and check-ins
• Have something to point to (even informally) when things go sideways

• Anyone considering a collaboration with a colleague, friend, or family member
• Entrepreneurs who've been burned by unequal partnerships
• People who want to know how to set boundaries without sounding like a lawyer
• Anyone curious how we make this podcast work

Drinks: Peppermint hot chocolate (with a minor overflow incident) and a spiritless Seedlip cocktail with orange, San Pellegrino, and rosemary

Erin Aquin is a Master Certified Life Coach and co-author of the #1 bestseller "Superabound: Live the Life the Universe is Dreaming For You." She provides whole life coaching for business owners, integrating success and personal fulfillment through her unique all-in-one approach.

Learn more at besuperabound.com

Elana McKernan is a Master Certified Life and Creativity Coach who specializes in helping perfectionists create more by treating themselves better. You can check out her free content here and learn more about coaching with her here.

What happens when you mix almond milk "holiday nog," espresso martinis, and two seasoned coaches talking shop? You get a masterclass in building a business that actually respects your soul . In part two of this deep dive, Erin and Elana move past the "Goal Swamp" of Facebook ads and cold metrics to explore what it really means to nurture relationships and lead with a pure heart . From the library of 700 books to the literal "pointy witch hat" Erin wears for coaching sessions, this episode is about shifting from "how do I make money?" to "how can I truly help?" .

In This Episode, We Discuss:

• The Espresso Martini Experiment: Why Elana is "doctoring" drinks with holiday nog and why staying awake past 9:30 PM is the ultimate entrepreneurial challenge .

• Beyond the "Lead": Moving away from "robot empire" terminology and focusing on the people already in your orbit .

• Creating Safety in Marketing: How working backwards from "what does someone need to feel safe spending their time with me?" is more powerful than any $300k revenue goal .

• Old Lady Wisdom on Rejection: Why rejection isn't personal or final—it’s often just a sign that you haven't created enough safety yet .

• The Luxury Car Sales Experience: What high-end car sales can teach us about non-pushy, high-integrity invitations .

• Wearing the "Magic Hat": Why Erin mentally (and sometimes literally) separates "business building days" from "coaching days" to keep the space sacred for her clients .

Memorable Quotes

• "Are we growing people right now? Like, what are we doing? People are not leads." — Elana

• "There's nothing I can do or not do that's going to bring this person closer if they're not the right person." — Erin

• "My coaching hat is on... it's a pointy witch hat and we're doing magic with clients." — Erin

For full show notes and to learn more about Erin and Elana's work visit https://besuperabound.com/coachingmixer/ep-19-espresso-martinis-magic-hats-and-why-leads-are-actually-people

In this episode of The Coaching Mixer, Erin and Elana sip espresso martinis while exploring business growth, coaching, and the myths that keep people stuck.

They start with a listener question: why so many coaches believe there’s a “right” formula for growing a business—and why that belief often gets in the way.

Erin and Elana unpack the fantasy of the perfect funnel, the overreliance on marketing tactics that don’t fit, and the avoidance of the most basic (and uncomfortable) truth: clients come from talking to people.

You’ll hear thoughtful reflections on:

• Why chasing growth formulas can be a form of procrastination

• How trust, not tactics, is the real growth engine for service businesses

• Why introverts aren’t broken at business, and why “visibility” doesn’t have to mean performing online

• The overlooked power of your existing network and small, human invitations

This episode is for coaches and service-based business owners who feel pressure to market in ways that don’t feel like them, who suspect there’s something simpler underneath the noise, and who want permission to stop forcing themselves into someone else’s blueprint.

For full show notes, visit: https://besuperabound.com/coachingmixer/ep-18-how-coaches-actually-get-clients

In this episode, Erin and Elena have an honest conversation about toxic positivity, emotional depth, and what it actually takes to create meaningful change as a coach, leader, or human. The discussion moves from client work to coaching culture to marketing, with plenty of real-world examples and lived experience along the way.

This episode will help you see why avoiding “negative” emotions limits growth—and how learning to work with the full emotional range leads to more effective coaching, leadership, and self-trust.

• Why toxic positivity and toxic negativity are both protective strategies
• How emotional avoidance shows up in coaching and leadership
• The hidden cost of “before and after” coaching marketing
• Why centering the coach undermines client transformation
• What it actually means to hold space without fixing
• How depth, not polish, builds trust and credibility
• Why coaches can only take clients as deep as they’ve gone themselves

A thoughtful, candid conversation for anyone who wants to lead, coach, or live with more honesty and less performative optimism. For the full show notes, visit https://besuperabound.com/coachingmixer

This week's episode takes on toxic positivity, not to bash optimism, but to untangle when “staying positive” actually blocks honesty, safety, and real change in coaching relationships. Erin and Elana explore how coaches can hold nuance, complexity, and emotion without rushing clients toward silver linings.

• What “toxic positivity” really is—and why it often comes from self-protection, not bad intent

• How positivity can quietly disconnect clients from what they’re actually experiencing

• Why emotional grit is often easier to coach than polished optimism

• How coaches may unintentionally signal which emotions are “allowed” in the room

• The subtle difference between respecting a client’s readiness and pushing for depth

• What it actually takes to create a space where clients don’t have to edit themselves

This conversation is especially relevant for coaches working with leaders, founders, and high-functioning clients who’ve learned to keep it together at all costs. For full show notes visit: https://besuperabound.com/coachingmixer/ep-16-the-hidden-cost-of-staying-positive